self-driving car – can it be so cheap?

“Americans are increasingly interested in buying self-driving cars, though some blanch at the price, according to survey results released yesterday by J.D. Powers and Associates. According to a press release (the full study isn’t available to the public), the firm’s annual look at consumers and emerging auto technology found that 37 percent of drivers are interested in an autonomous vehicle. But upon learning that a self-driving car will cost an extra $3,000, the figure dropped to 20 percent. “

I’d gladly pay $3,000 to have a self-driving car. I am completely in agreement with the notion that I would like to be able to take control at any point, but really – the value of the freedom a car offers and the time/attention saved in NOT having to drive myself has to pay for itself pretty fast.